Phil Mickelson walks off the 16th tee during the first round of the 113th U.S. Open. / Matthew O'Haren, USA TODAY Sports

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

ARDMORE, Pa. - Phil Mickelson made the long trek from home to the first tee - roughly 2,700 miles - and is on his way in the 113th U.S. Open.

Mickelson flew home Monday to the San Diego area to attend his daughter's eighth-grade graduation on Wednesday night. He hopped a private plane about 11:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday and hit the ground right on schedule at about 4:30 a.m. near Philadelphia.

Golf Channel showed him arriving on the grounds of Merion Golf Club at about 5:38 a.m.

The five-time U.S. Open runner-up, embraced warmly by fans when he arrived, teed off at 7:11 a.m. at No. 11 with Steve Stricker and Keegan Bradley.

Mickelson, who has five wedges and no driver in his bag this week, looked a little sleepy as he began his round, three-putting for bogey on his first hole. He got that stroke back with a birdie at 115-yard par-3 13th and was at even par through five holes when play was suspended because of impending storms.

How much golf Mickelson and the rest of the field will actually play is the question of the day.

Heavy storms, with lightning, rain and high winds, were on their way in the morning. The Weather Channel forecast called for a brief window of calm late morning/early afternoon before even heavier storms arrived.